Method and apparatus for delivery of application services

ABSTRACT

Systems and processes that incorporate teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a request for a streaming video application service from a mobile device and, responsive to determining a relationship between a service provider of a wireless access point and a service provider of a cellular network providing the streaming video application service via the cellular services. Responsive to determining that the wireless access point is in a communication range of the mobile device based on a proximity of the wireless access point to the mobile device, a communication session is initiated between the mobile device and the wireless access point. Delivery of the streaming video application service to the mobile device is switched from over the cellular network to over the wireless access point. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/142,858 filed Jan. 6, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/417,199 filed May 20, 2019 (now U.S. Pat. No.10,924,899), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/398,403 filed Jan. 4, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,341,827), which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/571,464 filed Aug.10, 2012 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,571,868). The contents of each of theforegoing are hereby incorporated by reference into this application asif set forth herein in full.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates generally to a method and apparatus fordelivery of application services.

BACKGROUND

Cellular radio communication services have evolved in a relatively briefperiod from early implementations offering voice only services, to voicewith limited data services, such as short messaging service, to evermore robust data networks capable of delivering rich data services(e.g., 3G and long term evolution or LTE). Data services routinelyexpected by cellular subscribers may now include email, web browsing,and even streaming media services, such as streaming audio and streamingvideo. Unfortunately, demand for data rich applications seems to outpacetechnological advances.

At least one reason for such demand in a mobile cellular service is thatsubscribers have become accustomed to data rich services. Subscribersare familiar with Web browsing and their ever-expanding onlineexperiences through their home and office networks. Home wirelessnetworks and Wireless Fidelity (also known as Wi-Fi) hotspots providesubscribers with a sense that such data rich features are easilydeliverable to any mobile device. Additionally, as mobile phones tend tobecome more like mobile computers, the line between phone and computeris blurred.

For the time being, mobile cellular radio networks have bandwidthconstraints imposed by their very nature as radio networks. Namely,there are a limited number of frequencies available within a givengeographic region to be shared by multiple cellular service providersand other wireless applications. Cellular services can be subject tomore stringent regulatory constraints (e.g., wireless operationalrequirements imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC))than Wi-Fi services, which operate at much lower power levels.Accordingly, despite advances in processing power, storage capacity, andnetwork availability, the constraints of limited over-the-air capacityof mobile cellular radio communications remain as a gating factor indelivery of rich data services.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIGS. 1-2 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal forinteracting with the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2 ;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceutilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2 ;

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system that performslocation-based delivery of high-bandwidth application services;

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of another system thatperforms location-based delivery of high-bandwidth application services;

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a process operating inportions of the systems described in FIGS. 1-6 ;

FIG. 8 depicts an alternative illustrative embodiment of a processoperating in portions of the systems described in FIGS. 1-6 ; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments of devices, systems and processes that may include, forexample, receiving from a mobile device, by way of a cellular network, arequest for delivery of high-bandwidth application service. A locationof the mobile device can be obtained and used to determine availabilityof any nearby wireless packet-network services. If it is determined thata wireless packet-network service is available, the mobile device can bedirected to initiate a network connection between the mobile device andthe wireless packet-network service. The request for delivery ofhigh-bandwidth services can then be forwarded to an application serverthat delivers the requested services by way of the wirelesspacket-network service. Other embodiments are disclosed.

One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a device having amemory storing computer instructions and a processor coupled to thememory. The processor can be operable to execute the computerinstructions, to perform operations including receiving from a mobiledevice, by way of a cellular network, a first request for delivery of astreaming video application service. The processor is also operable todetermine a location of the mobile device and to determine availabilityof a wireless packet-network service at the location of the mobiledevice. The processor is operable to direct the mobile device toinitiate a network connection between the mobile device and the wirelesspacket-network service in response to a determination that the wirelesspacket-network service is available at the location of the mobiledevice. The processor is also operable to forward, to an applicationserver, a second request for delivery of the streaming video applicationservice to the mobile device by way of the wireless packet-networkservice.

Another embodiment of the subject disclosure includes acomputer-readable storage medium that includes computer instructionswhich, responsive to being executed by a processor, cause the processorto perform operations including receiving from a mobile device, by wayof a cellular network, a first request for delivery of a high-bandwidthapplication service. The processor can determine a location of themobile device and can determine availability of a wirelesspacket-network service at the location of the mobile device. Theprocessor can further provide instructions to the mobile device to causethe mobile device to initiate a network connection between the mobiledevice and the wireless packet-network service. The processor can alsoforward to an application server a second request for delivery of thehigh-bandwidth application service to the mobile device by way of thewireless packet-network service.

Yet another embodiment of the subject disclosure is a process whichincludes receiving, by a system having a processor, from a mobile devicea first request for delivery of high-bandwidth application service. Alocation of the mobile device is determined by the system. Availabilityof a wireless packet-network service at the location of the mobiledevice is also determined by the system. A network connection of themobile device to the wireless packet-network service can be based oninformation provided by the system to the mobile device. A request canbe forwarded to an application server for delivery of the high-bandwidthapplication service to the mobile device by way of the wirelesspacket-network service.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first system 100 fordelivering media content. The system 100 allows for receiving requestsfrom mobile devices over a cellular network for delivery of dataservices, such as a streaming video application service includingInternet Protocol Television (IPTV) or Video-on-Demand (VoD). As will bedescribed in more detail below, the system 100 further allows for adetermination of a physical location of mobile devices making requests,as well as the availability of wireless packet-network service at thelocation of the mobile devices. In response to these requests, thesystem 100 allows or otherwise instructs the mobile devices to initiateor engage in a network connection with the wireless packet-networkservice. The system 100 further allows for modification of the requestsfor delivery of the requested data services, such that delivery of therequested services to the mobile devices can be made by way of thewireless packet-network service, rather than the cellular network.

The system 100 can represent an IPTV media system. The IPTV media systemcan include a super head-end office (SHO) 110 with at least one superhead-end office server (SHS) 111 which receives media content fromsatellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In the presentcontext, media content can represent, for example, audio content, movingimage content such as 2D or 3D videos, video games, virtual realitycontent, still image content, and combinations thereof. The SHS server111 can forward packets associated with the media content to one or morevideo head-end servers (VHS) 114 via a network of video head-end offices(VHO) 112 according to a multicast communication protocol.

The VHS 114 can distribute multimedia broadcast content via an accessnetwork 118 to commercial and/or residential buildings 102 housing agateway 104 (such as a residential or commercial gateway). The accessnetwork 118 can represent a group of digital subscriber line accessmultiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service areainterface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links orcopper twisted pairs 119 to buildings 102. The gateway 104 can usecommunication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 106 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 108 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 107 (such as aninfrared or RF remote controller).

The gateway 104, the media processors 106, and media devices 108 canutilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, power lineor phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocolsuch as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth, Zigbee, or other local orpersonal area wireless network technologies. By way of these interfaces,unicast communications can also be invoked between the media processors106 and subsystems of the IPTV media system for services such as VoD,browsing an electronic programming guide (EPG), and/or otherinfrastructure services.

A satellite broadcast television system 129 can be used in the mediasystem of FIG. 1 . The satellite broadcast television system can beoverlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as anotherrepresentative embodiment of the system 100. In this embodiment, signalstransmitted by a satellite 115 that include media content can bereceived by a satellite dish receiver 131 coupled to the building 102.Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver 131 can betransferred to the media processors 106 for demodulating, decoding,encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the media devices108. The media processors 106 can be equipped with a broadband port toan Internet Service Provider (ISP) network 132 to enable interactiveservices such as VoD and EPG as described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcastdistribution system such as cable TV system 133 can be overlaid,operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satelliteTV system as another representative embodiment of the system 100. Inthis embodiment, the cable TV system 133 can also provide Internet,telephony, and interactive media services.

The exemplary embodiments can utilize or otherwise include otherover-the-air and/or landline media content service systems.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 130, a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing web portal services over the ISP network 132 towireline media devices 108 and/or wireless communication devices 116.

The system 100 can also provide for all or a portion of the computingdevices 130 to function as a controller (herein referred to ascontroller 130). The controller 130 can use computing and communicationtechnology to perform a function of controlling offloading of deliveryof data services over a cellular network, for example through thewireless base station 117. As an example, wireless base station 117 canbe utilized for delivery of high-traffic or high-bandwidth services toremote devices 116. One or more of the wireless base station 117 andwireless communication devices 116 can be provisioned with softwarefunctions 164 and 166, respectively, to utilize the services of thecontroller 130, which in turn can be modified by software functions 162to enable selectively offloading delivery of high-traffic services viaone or more wireless access points providing wireless packet-networkservices.

In at least some embodiments, the software functions 164 and 166 allowfor delivery of data services originally requested over a cellularnetwork, through a wireless packet-network service. By way of example,one of the remote devices 116 requests delivery of streaming videoservices through the cellular network, by way of the base station 117.The base station 117 can include or is otherwise in communication with acontroller 180. The controller 180, for example, can include a radioaccess terminal controller provided by the cellular service provider.The controller 180 can be configured to recognize requests forparticular services, such as VoD, and implement special processing ofsuch requests. In the illustrative example, the controller 180, receivesa request from a remote device 116 through a cellular network fordelivery of streaming video application services to the remote device116. In at least some embodiments, the request need not provide anyindication to suggest that delivery of the requested services would beother than by the cellular network through which the request was made.In response to receiving or otherwise identifying the request, thecontroller 180 first determines a location of the remote device 116 andthen whether the remote device 116 is within range of a wirelesspacket-network service. Having located a wireless packet-network servicewithin range of the remote device 116, the controller 180 canselectively attempt to re-direct delivery of the requested data servicethrough the wireless packet-network service. Such redirection serves toalleviate the excess burden of delivering streaming video from thecellular network.

By way of example, the controller 180 compares the location of theremote device 116 with a predetermined list of wireless access points atpredetermined locations (such wireless access points can be registered,certified, or otherwise identified or under the control of the cellularservice provider). The controller 180 can compare the location of theremote device 116 with locations of one or more wireless access points.The controller can conclude an availability of service, for example,when a distance between the remote device 116 and the particularwireless access point 181 is within a wireless range of the wirelessaccess point 181. Upon such a determination, the controller 180 candirect one or more of the remote device 116 and the wireless accesspoint 181 to initiate a communication connection. Thus, the remotedevice 116 can establish wireless access to the packet-network service,without having to undertake one or more of the usual discovery processesto locate wireless access points within range and to establishauthorization. The controller 180 can then forward a new or otherwisemodified request, for example, to an application server, such as thevideo server 130, for delivery of the requested streaming video serviceto the remote device 116 by way of the wireless packet-network service.The second or otherwise modified request can provide the video server130 with a determinable address of the remote device 116, then connectedto the wireless access point 181, such as an Internet address. In atleast some embodiments, this can be accomplished at the time ofinitiation of the services, or at a later time, during deliveryinitially occurring over the wide area network. The controller can beconfigured to ensure that state information is maintained during thetransfer so as to avoid any disruption to services already beingdelivered during transfer from one network to the other.

Thus, a remote device 116 is allowed to request services through a widearea network, such as a cellular radio network, while receiving deliveryof those services through a wireless local area network, such as an802.11 compliant wireless network. Beneficially, the wide area networkcan offload data services to conserver bandwidth while imposing littleor no restriction or limitation on the remote device 116 forimplementing this capability.

In response to receiving the request for services, elements of, or incoordination with, the wide area network (e.g., a cellular base stationcontroller) can identify a suitable wireless access point to the localarea network based on a location of the remote device. The controllercan then proceed to initiate or otherwise coordinate establishment ofwireless connectivity between the remote device 116 and the wirelessaccess point to the local area network. This would otherwise beaccomplished through a wireless access point discovery and authorizationprocess initiated by the remote device. Delivery of the requestedservices ultimately occurs through the established connection to thewireless local area network, freeing relatively scarce bandwidth of thewide area network, while delivering potentially bandwidth intensiveservices, such as streaming media.

In some embodiments, delivery of requested streaming video service canbe accomplished by computing devices 130, acting as a video server thatcommunicates with the remote device 116 through another network, such asthe Internet 182. In the illustrative example, the wireless access point181 is in networked communication with the Internet 182 through adedicated networked connection, or backhaul link 183. Examples of suchbackhaul links include one or more of a cable carrier, an ISP network, adial-up network, a satellite network, and the like. The controller 180can, in some embodiments, be in networked communication with thewireless access point 181, for example, through one or more of theInternet 182, or other available network, such as a private cellularcarrier. In at least some embodiments, the wireless packet-networkservice can be provided to the remote device 116 through the gateway 104(e.g., if a location of the mobile device 116 is within wireless rangeof the gateway 104).

Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices overlandline technologies such as those described above. Additionally, mediaservices can be offered to media devices by way of a wireless accessbase station 117 operating according to common wireless access protocolssuch as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Accessor CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal MobileTelecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave orWiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and soon. Other types of wide area wireless access network technologies can beutilized with the exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 200employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture tofacilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switchedsystems. The system 200 allows for receiving requests from a mobiledevice over a cellular network for delivery of a data service, such as astreaming video application service, such as IPTV or VOD. As will bedescribed in more detail below, the system 200 further allows for adetermination that the mobile device is within range of a wirelesspacket-network service, and the system can modify the request to allowfor delivery of the requested service over the wireless packet-networkservice, rather than over the cellular network. Modification can includeamong other features, changing a delivery address from a cellularnetwork address (e.g., mobile phone number) to a wireless packet-networkservice address (e.g., a packet network or Internet address). Thus, anoriginal request can be intercepted and modified, or otherwise replacedby another request that is sent or passed along to the appropriateapplication server. The application server, in turn, delivers therequested service according to the new or modified delivery address. Thecommunication system 200 can be overlaid or operably coupled with thesystem 100 as another representative embodiment of the system 100.

Communication system 200 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)240, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 230, and other networkelements of an IMS network 250. The IMS network 250 can establishcommunications between IMS-compliant communication devices (CDs) 201,202, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 203, 205, andcombinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)220 coupled to a PSTN network 260. The MGCF 220 need not be used when acommunication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. Acommunication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize theMGCF 220.

IMS CDs 201, 202 can register with the IMS network 250 by contacting aProxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with aninterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a ServingCSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS 240. To initiate acommunication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD 201 can submita Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originatingP-CSCF 204 which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF206. The originating S-CSCF 206 can submit the SIP INVITE message to oneor more application servers (ASs) 217 that can provide a variety ofservices to IMS subscribers.

For example, the application servers 217 can be used to performoriginating call feature treatment functions on the calling party numberreceived by the originating S-CSCF 206 in the SIP INVITE message.Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, call IDblocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requestingspecial telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel callforwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initialfilter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, oneor more application servers may be invoked to provide various calloriginating feature services.

Additionally, the originating S-CSCF 206 can submit queries to the ENUMsystem 230 to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITEmessage to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminatingcommunication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by anInterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 207 to submit a query to the HSS 240 toidentify a terminating S-CSCF 214 associated with a terminating IMS CDsuch as reference 202. Once identified, the I-CSCF 207 can submit theSIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF 214. The terminating S-CSCF214 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 216 associated with theterminating CD 202. The P-CSCF 216 may then signal the CD 202 toestablish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services,thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voiceand/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile,one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various callterminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb,music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc.

In some instances the aforementioned communication process issymmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 2 may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communicationsystem 200 can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition,communication system 200 can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs 201, 202with the multimedia and Internet services of the system 100 of FIG. 1 .

If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD203 or CD 205 (in instances where the cellular phone only supportscircuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system 230 can respondwith an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originatingS-CSCF 206 to forward the call to the MGCF 220 via a Breakout GatewayControl Function (BGCF) 219. The MGCF 220 can then initiate the call tothe terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network 260 to enable the callingand called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications.

It is further appreciated that the CDs of FIG. 2 can operate as wirelineand/or wireless devices. For example, the CDs of FIG. 2 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 221, a femtocell, aWiFi router, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) baseunit, or another suitable wireless access unit to establishcommunications with the IMS network 250 of FIG. 2 . The cellular accessbase station 221 can operate according to common wireless accessprotocols such as GSM, CDMA, TDMA, UMTS, WiMax, SDR, LTE, and so on.Other present and next generation wireless network technologies can beapplied to the subject disclosure. Accordingly, multiple wireline andwireless communication technologies can be used by the CDs of FIG. 2 .

Cellular phones supporting LTE can support packet-switched voice andpacket-switched data communications and thus may operate asIMS-compliant mobile devices. In this embodiment, the cellular basestation 221 may communicate directly with the IMS network 250 as shownby the arrow connecting the cellular base station 221 and the P-CSCF216.

It is further understood that alternative forms of a CSCF can operate ina device, system, component, or other form of centralized or distributedhardware and/or software. Indeed, a respective CSCF may be embodied as arespective CSCF system having one or more computers or servers, eithercentralized or distributed, where each computer or server may beconfigured to perform or provide, in whole or in part, any method, step,or functionality described herein in accordance with a respective CSCF.Likewise, other functions, servers and computers described herein,including but not limited to, the HSS, the ENUM server, the BGCF, andthe MGCF, can be embodied in a respective system having one or morecomputers or servers, either centralized or distributed, where eachcomputer or server may be configured to perform or provide, in whole orin part, any method, step, or functionality described herein inaccordance with a respective function, server, or computer.

The controller 130 of FIG. 1 can be operably coupled to the secondcommunication system 200 for purposes similar to those described above.The server/controller 130 can perform function 162 and therebyfacilitate enhanced bandwidth management of the wireless network 117, byselectively offloading delivery of high-traffic services to the CDs 201,202, 203 and 205 of FIG. 2 . CDs 201, 202, 203 and 205, can be adaptedwith software to perform function 176 to utilize the services of thecontroller 130. It is further contemplated that the controller 130 canbe an integral part of the application server(s) 217 performing function172 or the cellular base station performing function 174, each of whichcan be substantially similar to function 162 and adapted to theoperations of the IMS network 250.

By way of example, the cellular base station function 174 can beconfigured to receive a request for high-traffic data services, such asstreaming video application services, and to undertake actions tooffload delivery of such services from the cellular network to anothernetwork, such as a wireless packet-network service. In the illustrativeexample, a mobile device, such as a cell phone 205, requests delivery ofstreaming video services through the cellular network. For example, thecellular base station function 174 detects the request and determines alocation of the mobile device 205, described in more detail below. Thecellular base station function 174 then determines availability of awireless packet-network service at the location of the mobile device205, for example, from a lookup table or other suitable database ofavailable wireless access points. Once the availability of wirelesspacket-network services has been established, the cellular base stationfunction 174 can direct the mobile device 205 to initiate a networkconnection with a corresponding wireless access point 281. The cellularbase station function 174 can then forward a request for the controller130 to direct delivery of the requested streaming video applicationservices through the established wireless packet-network service. Insome embodiments, the wireless access point 281 can be in networkedcommunication with the Internet 282 through a dedicated networkedconnection, or backhaul link 283 and/or through a private cellularcarrier. Thus, the cellular network can redirect delivery of requesteddata services to another network, to offload or otherwise maintainavailable bandwidth for other wireless users. Additionally,implementation of such transfers from one network to another can beaccomplished by a network controller, with little or no specialmodification required by the mobile device 205. Further, energy savingscan be realized on the mobile device by alleviating the mobile devicefrom the burden of having to undertake discovery of wireless local areanetworks, and the need to identify preferred wireless local areanetworks from others. Such a process might otherwise be cumbersome byrepeated attempts to identify or otherwise connect to a suitablewireless access point from among a number of wireless access points thatmight happen to be within a range.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal 302 which canbe hosted by server applications operating from the computing devices130 of the system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 . The portal system 300allows for interaction with communication systems, such as those systems100. 200 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 . Such controlled interaction caninclude receiving requests from a mobile device over a cellular networkfor delivery of a data service (e.g., a streaming video applicationservice, such as IPTV or VOD). As described herein, the systems 100, 200allow for a determination that the mobile device is within range of awireless packet-network service, and allow for modifying the request toenable delivery of the requested service over the wirelesspacket-network service, rather than the cellular network. The portal 302can be used, for example, to control parameters related toimplementation of such features. Such parameters can include userpreferences, such as restrictions on offloading, registration ofwireless access points, preferences for determining a location of themobile device, and the like.

The web portal 302 can be used for managing services of the systems100-200. A web page of the web portal 302 can be accessed by a UniformResource Locator (URL) with an Internet browser such as Microsoft'sInternet Explorer™, Mozilla's Firefox™, Apple's Safari™, or Google'sChrome™ using an Internet-capable communication device such as thosedescribed in FIGS. 1-2 . The web portal 302 can be configured, forexample, to access a media processor 106 and services managed therebysuch as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog,an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such aspersonal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the mediaprocessor 106. The web portal 302 can also be used for provisioning IMSservices described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioningcellular phone services, and so on.

The web portal 302 can further be utilized to manage and provisionsoftware applications 162-166, and 172-176 to adapt these applicationsas may be desired by subscribers and service providers of the systems100-200. For example, the web portal 302 can be used to enterpreferences for data service offloading, identification of predeterminedlocations, predetermined Wi-Fi hotspots, and the like.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device 400.Communication device 400 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in FIGS. 1-2 . Thecommunication device 400 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 402 (herein transceiver 402), a user interface (UI) 404, apower supply 414, a location receiver 416, a motion sensor 418, anorientation sensor 420, and a controller 406 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 402 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellulartechnologies can include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS,TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other wirelesscommunication technologies. The transceiver 402 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof. In at least some embodiments thetransceiver 402 alone or in combination with another transceiver (notshown) provides communication services over more than one differentnetwork. For example, the transceiver 402 can be configured tocommunicate over a cellular network, for example, through a cellularantenna 485. Alternatively or in addition, the transceiver 402 can beconfigured to communication with a wireless packet network service, forexample, through a Wi-Fi antenna 486. Although separate antennas 485,486 are illustrated in the example embodiment, it is understood thatother antenna configurations are possible, such as a single antennaconfigured to support communication over both the cellular and Wi-Finetwork services.

The UI 404 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 408 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device400. The keypad 408 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 400 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 408 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTYkeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 404 can further include a display410 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 400. In anembodiment where the display 410 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 408 can be presented by way of the display 410 withnavigation features.

The display 410 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input (e.g., touch of a user's finger). Asa touch screen display, the communication device 400 can be adapted topresent a user interface with graphical user interface (GUI) elementsthat can be selected by a user with a touch of a finger. The touchscreen display 410 can be equipped with capacitive, resistive or otherforms of sensing technology to detect how much surface area of a user'sfinger has been placed on a portion of the touch screen display. Thissensing information can be used control the manipulation of the GUIelements.

The UI 404 can also include an audio system 412 that utilizes commonaudio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heardonly in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such asspeakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 412 can furtherinclude a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. Theaudio system 412 can also be used for voice recognition applications.The UI 404 can further include an image sensor 413 such as a chargedcoupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 414 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy tothe components of the communication device 400 to facilitate long-rangeor short-range portable applications. Alternatively, the charging systemcan utilize external power sources such as DC power supplied over aphysical interface such as a USB port. The location receiver 416 canutilize common location technology such as a global positioning system(GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of thecommunication device 400 based on signals generated by a constellationof GPS satellites, thereby facilitating location services such asnavigation. The motion sensor 418 can utilize motion sensing technologysuch as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or other suitable motion sensingto detect motion of the communication device 400 in three-dimensionalspace. The orientation sensor 420 can utilize orientation sensingtechnology such as a magnetometer to detect the orientation of thecommunication device 400 (North, South, West, East, combinedorientations thereof in degrees, minutes, or other suitable orientationmetrics).

The communication device 400 can use the transceiver 402 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA) or timeof flight (TOF). The controller 406 can utilize computing technologiessuch as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or avideo processor with associated storage memory such as Flash, ROM, RAM,SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies.

Other components not shown in FIG. 4 can be used. For instance, thecommunication device 400 can include a reset button (not shown). Thereset button can be used to reset the controller 406 of thecommunication device 400. In yet another embodiment, the communicationdevice 400 can also include a factory default setting button positionedbelow a small hole in a housing assembly of the communication device 400to force the communication device 400 to re-establish factory settings.In this embodiment, a user can use a protruding object such as a pen orpaper clip tip to reach into the hole and depress the default settingbutton.

The communication device 400 as described herein can operate with moreor less components described in FIG. 4 .

The communication device 400 can be adapted to perform the functions ofthe media processor 106, the media devices 108, or the portablecommunication devices 116 of FIG. 1 , as well as the IMS CDs 201-202 andPSTN CDs 203-205 of FIG. 2 . It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 400 can also represent other devices that canoperate in the systems 100-200 of FIGS. 1-2 such as a gaming console anda media player.

The communication device 400 shown in FIG. 4 or portions thereof canserve as a representation of one or more of the devices of the systems100-200. The controller 406 can also be adapted in various embodimentsto perform one or more of the functions 162-166 and 172-176,respectively.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 500 that performslocation-based delivery of high-bandwidth application services. Thesystem 500 includes a cellular network 502 that includes one or morecells 504 a, 504 b, 504 c (generally 504). Each cell includes arespective antenna 506 a, 506 b, 506 c (generally 506) providing radiocoverage in a respective territorial area 504. Each antenna 506 of thecellular network 502 is coupled to at least one controller 508. In theillustrative example, a single controller 508 is coupled to multipleantennas 506 through a mobile carrier backhaul network 518. The mobilecarrier backhaul network 518 can include one or more suitablecommunication technologies, such as broadband cable, optical fiber(e.g., synchronous optical network (SONET)), wireless (e.g., satellite,terrestrial radio, microwave, free-space optical), digital subscriberline (DSL), integrated services digital network (ISDN), and the like. Itis understood that in some embodiments, at least some of the antennasinclude a local controller 508 (not shown).

The cellular network 502 is in communication with a video applicationserver 510, for example, through a packet network 512, as shown. Thepacket network 512 can include one or more of a local area network, ametropolitan network, and a wide area network. The packet network 512can also support transmission control protocol/Internet protocolnetwork, as in the Internet. The video application server provideshigh-bandwidth services, such as streaming video. In the illustrativeexample, the video application server 510 is in communication with atleast one video content repository 514. The video content repository 514can include mass storage capable of storing a catalog of video programcontent.

In at least some embodiments, the video application server 510 isconfigured to deliver one or more selected video programs in a streamingvideo format in response to a request from a requesting device. Forexample, a mobile device 516, such as a smart phone, submits a requestfor streaming video services to the video application server 510 throughthe cellular network 501. In more detail, the mobile device 516communicates wirelessly with an antenna 506 b of a cell 504 b. Suchwireless cellular communications can include any suitable wirelesstechnology, such as: universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN);evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRA), otherwiseknown as long term evolution (LTE); global system for mobilecommunications (GSM); general packet radio service (GPRS); code divisionmultiple access (CDMA); evolution-data optimized (EV-DO); enhanced datarates for global system for mobile communications evolution (EDGE);universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS); digital enhancedcordless telecommunications (DECT); digital advanced mobile phone system(D-AMPS); integrated digital enhanced network (iDEN), and combinationsthereof.

The mobile device 516 submits a request for streaming video service, forexample from a mobile application or “App,” resident on the mobiledevice 516. In some embodiments, the request is received wirelessly atthe antenna 506 b and forwarded to the controller 508 over the mobilecarrier backhaul network 518. The request for streaming video servicecan include a video program. The controller 508, in turn, forwards therequest to the video application server 510. In the illustrativeembodiment and without limitation, the request is forwarded over adifferent network, such as the packet network 512, which can operate aspart of the Internet, or a private network. The video application server510 interprets the request, obtains the requested video program from thevideo content repository 514 and establishes streaming video servicewith the mobile device 516, providing the requested video programthrough the cellular network 502, such as 3G and 4G LTE enablednetworks.

Such streaming video services represent high-bandwidth services, whichcan place a substantial demand on generally limited bandwidth resourcesof the cellular network 502. The present disclosure includes techniquesfor offloading at least some high-bandwidth services to mobile devices516 of subscribers by redirecting such services initially requestedthrough the cellular network 502 to a separate network. An example ofone such network suitable for offloading is wireless packet-networkservice. Without limitation, one such class of wireless network serviceis described by the IEEE 802.11 family of standards (e.g., IEEE802.11a/g/n) from the cellular network 502. The Wi-Fi Alliance definesWi-Fi as any wireless local area network product that is based on theIEEE 802.11 standards.

Also illustrated in FIG. 5 are Wi-Fi “hot spots” 520 a, 520 b, 520 c(generally 520). Each Wi-Fi hotspot has a respective coverage area shownas the dashed circle drawn about a respective wireless access point(WAP) 522 a, 522 b, 522 c (generally 522). Each wireless access point522 is in communication with a computer network, such as the Internet512 through a respective Wi-Fi backhaul network 524 a. The Wi-Fibackhaul network 524 a can include any suitable communicationstechnology, such as the technologies and services disclosed above inrelation to the mobile carrier backhaul network 518. Whereas a cell 504might include several city blocks, servicing a potentially larger numberof subscribers, Wi-Fi hotspots 520 can be substantially smaller, perhaps100-200 feet, servicing far fewer clients. As such, requests forhigh-bandwidth services through Wi-Fi hotspots 520 can be used toservice requests for high-bandwidth services, such as streaming video,including VoD.

As shown in the illustrative example, one or more of the hotspots 520reside within one or more cells 504 of the cellular network 502. Thus,there will be situations in which a cellular network subscriber,represented here by the mobile device 516, happens to be within one ormore Wi-Fi hotspots 520. In the illustrative example, the mobile device516 is served by a cell 504 b, while also residing within coverage of ahotspot 520 a. By identifying such situations and according to thetechniques disclosed herein, a cellular network provider can receive arequest for high-bandwidth service over the cellular network 502, andfacilitate service of the request through the Internet by way of theWi-Fi hotspot 520 a.

In at least one implementation, the controller 508 receiving a requestfrom the mobile device 516, can identify the mobile device 516 from itsassociation with the cellular network 502. The controller 508 can beconfigured to obtain a location of the mobile device 516, for example byrequesting a self-identified location as may be available by a globalpositioning system (GPS) service of the mobile device 516. Otherself-identified locations might include an address, or other featureidentifying location, such as a particular retail store in a given city,state, and/or zip code. Such identifying features might be provided by auser of the mobile device 516 along with a request for streaming videoservice, or in response to a network query for such location informationprompted by such a request. Alternatively or in addition, the locationof the mobile device 516 can be determined by external means. At leastone example of such external means includes localization bymultilateration (e.g., triangulation) of radio signals received from themobile device 516 by several radio antennas 506 of the cellular network502.

Once an approximate location of the mobile device 516 has beenestablished and identified at the controller 508, the controller canconsult a predetermined listing of hotspots 520 to determine whether thelocation of the mobile device 516 is within a coverage area of one ormore of the hotspots. By way of example, such a predetermined listing ofhotspots 530 can be stored on a storage device 532. The listing can bein the form of a database, a table, or any suitable format to facilitatesearch and retrieval of hotspot information. The listing of hotspots 530might include a geographic location of a hotspot 520, such as a GPSposition (e.g., latitude, longitude) and/or an address. Alternatively orin addition, the listing of hotspots 530 also includes an indication ofthe associated coverage area or range of each of the listed hotspots520. Such an indication of coverage might include a radius in feet ormeters, which can be used in combination with the listed location of thewireless access point 522 of the hotspot 520 to determine an approximatecircumference defining a respective coverage area 520. The controller508 can be configured through mathematical calculations generally usedin geo-location and navigation to determine whether the mobile device516 requesting service falls within coverage area (e.g., acircumference) of one or more of the listed hotspots 520.

In some embodiments, movement of the mobile device 516 can be taken intoconsideration. For example, a trajectory of a moving mobile device 516can be calculated by the controller 508. Such a trajectory can becalculated based on successive positional updates and a measure of timebetween such updates. A velocity can be determined from such positionalupdates so as to provide a direction and a velocity. Such a trajectorycan be used, for example, by the controller 508 to determine whether amobile device 516 not yet within coverage of a hotspot is headingtowards a hotspot, or whether a mobile device 516 already within ahotspot may be moving out of a coverage of the hotspot. Such advancedindications of a future position of the mobile device 516 as can bedetermined according to a trajectory, can be used by the system topre-coordinate transitions between a cellular network and one or moreWiFi hotspots 520.

Once at least one candidate hotspot 520 within range of the mobiledevice 516 has been identified, the controller 508 can initiate orotherwise facilitate establishment of a network connection between themobile device 516 and the wireless access point 522 of the hotspot 520,such as providing information to the mobile device to cause the mobiledevice to initiate the network connection. For example, the mobiledevice 516 can be preconfigured with one or more applications that allowsuch remote manipulation of Wi-Fi network connections by the cellularservice provider. Once the mobile device 516 has connected to theInternet through the Wi-Fi network of the hotspot 520, the controller508 can direct or otherwise request that the original request of themobile device 516 be serviced through the packet-network servicesavailable through the Wi-Fi hotspot 520, and not through the cellularnetwork 502. The video application server 510 can then proceed todeliver the requested high-bandwidth service, such as streaming video,through the packet-network.

In at least some embodiments, the controller 508 can facilitate suchpacket-network delivery by modifying the original request to provide thevideo application server 510 with an internet address of the requestingmobile device 516 obtained through the packet network. Once again, anapplication provided on the mobile device 516 can be configured toobtain the Wi-Fi internet address, once established, providing it to thecontroller 508 of the cellular network service provider, such that thecontroller 508 can forward it to the video application server 510 by wayof the modified request.

In at least some embodiments, the controller 508 can be notified of aloss of Wi-Fi service to the mobile device 516 engaging in the deliveryof such high-bandwidth services. For example, the mobile device 516 canprovide an indication through the cellular network 502 that the Wi-Ficonnection has been lost or compromised. Alternatively or in addition,the video application server 510, can be configured to detect orotherwise conclude a loss or compromise of the delivery of thehigh-bandwidth services, providing a suitable notification to thecontroller 508. For example, the video application server 510 canmaintain an IP address of the controller 508 associated with the requestbeing serviced, such that a notification of loss of service can beprovided to the same controller 508. The controller 508, in turn, canattempt to re-establish deliver of the originally requestedhigh-bandwidth services by re-establishing a Wi-Fi connection, repeatingone or more of the actions disclosed above. Alternatively, or afterunsuccessfully making one or more such attempts to reconnect throughWi-Fi, the controller 508 can be configured to establish delivery of theoriginally requested high-bandwidth services through the cellularnetwork 502.

In at least some embodiments, the controller 508 can be configured toselectively deliver such high-bandwidth services through the cellularnetwork 502 or the packet network 512, according to one or more ofbusiness rules and various conditions. Examples of some conditions thatcould be relevant include actual usage (e.g., number of activesubscribers, bandwidth usage), time of day (e.g., busy hour), geographiclocations (e.g., urban, rural), class of service (e.g., a premiumservice might be more likely to deliver services through cellularnetwork 502). Business rules can be established to manage offloading ofhigh-bandwidth services according to one or more of such conditions.

FIG. 6 depicts another embodiment of a system 600 that performslocation-based delivery of high-bandwidth application services. At leastone feature of the illustrative system 600 that can differ from theprevious embodiment of FIG. 5 , is connection of a video server 610directly to the cellular network 602, for example, through the radioaccess network backhaul network 618 of the cellular network 602.

In the illustrative embodiment, a mobile device 616 is in radiocommunication with a cell tower or antenna 606 of the cellular network602. The antenna 606 is coupled to a base station transceiver thatterminates one side of the wireless, or air-interface with the mobiledevice 616. The air-interface can be established or otherwise definedaccording to a suitable wireless protocol, such as any of the wirelessservices referred to herein. The base station transceiver is coupled toa controller 608, shown here collocated with the base stationtransceiver in the base station 609, although it is understood that thecontroller 608 can be located remotely from the base station 609, forexample, accessible through the radio access backhaul network 618.Accordingly, one such controller can be configured to serve one or morebase stations 609.

As in the previous example, the mobile device 616 initiates a requestfor a high-bandwidth service, such as a streaming video service as mightbe available through a mobile device application (e.g., a Netflix®application for Android® phones). The request is wirelessly transmittedfrom the mobile device 616 to the cell tower 606 and received at thebase station transceiver 607. The request for service is then forwardedto the controller 608, which may interpret that the request is forstreaming video service. Accordingly, the controller 608 can forward therequest to the video server 610 through the radio access networkbackhaul network 618. The video server 610, in turn, services therequest by obtaining a requested video program from a video catalog ofprograms as might be available on a video content repository 614, asshown. In at least some instances, the requested program is streamedfrom the video server 610 to the mobile device 616, through the cellularnetwork 602.

For reasons similar to those discussed above, it may be advantageous inat least some situations to offload delivery of such high-bandwidthservices to a network separate from the cellular network. As describedabove, one such class of networks is referred to generally as packetnetwork 612, which can include any suitable computer network able todeliver streaming video services. Once again, the mobile device 616 canaccess the packet network 612 through a wireless access point 622, asshown, when the mobile device is within a coverage area of a Wi-Fihotspot of the wireless access point. A distance, d, is illustratedindicating a separation distance between the mobile device and anidentifiable wireless access network 622. In this instance, the locationof the mobile device can be obtained by at least one of the controllerand the video server 610. A predetermined list 630 of Wi-Fi hotspots canbe consulted by at least one of the controller 608 and the video server610 to identify one or more candidate Wi-Fi hotspots available to therequesting mobile device 616. Once a suitable Wi-Fi hotspot has beendetermined, for example according to techniques similar to thosedisclosed in the previous example, at least one of the controller 608and the video server 610 can initiate connection of the mobile device tothe identified wireless access point 622. Such coordination of thisconnection can be initiated by way of the cellular network 602 using,for example, techniques disclosed herein or otherwise generally known tothose skilled in the art.

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a process operating inportions of the systems and devices described in FIGS. 1-6 . The process700 can begin with step 705, in which a request for high-bandwidthapplication service is received from a mobile device, as used herein, amobile device, such as the mobile device 516 (FIG. 5 ) and the mobiledevice 616 (FIG. 6 ), includes any device capable of undertaking atleast wireless data communications. Such devices include, withoutlimitation, mobile phones, tablets computers, personal data assistants,laptop computers, net book computers, multi-media displays, gamecontrollers, and more generally any wireless network accessible device.High-bandwidth application service can be any application providing dataand/or voice services, such as streaming media, including streamingvideo, streaming audio, data transfers (e.g., file transfer protocol),and the like.

The process 700 can continue with step 710, in which a location of themobile device 516, 616 associated with the aforementioned request forhigh-bandwidth application service, is determined. As discussed herein,the location can be determined from the mobile device itself, as in aGPS location determined by a GPS feature of the mobile device 516, 616,or by a user entered location, such as an address, or retail outlet, orany suitable indication of location. Such determination of location canalso be determined from presence information that might be maintained onthe mobile device 516, 616 and/or on a local and/or remote applicationtracking such presence status. Alternatively or in addition, thelocation can be determined externally, for example, by radio-locationtechniques using signals received from the mobile device 516, 616. Suchsignals when received at more than one cell tower 506, 606 can be usedin combination with a measured signal strength to estimate a location ofthe mobile device 516, 616, for example by triangulation techniques.

Having determined or otherwise estimated a location of the mobile device516, 616, the process 700 can continue with step 715, in which it isdetermined whether a wireless access point is available. Such wirelessaccess points can include the Wi-Fi hotspot access points 522, 622disclosed herein. As described above, a listing of available wirelessaccess points 522, 622 can be pre-established, for example, as a resultof a registration process, a discovery process, or a lookup on asuitable database listing of wireless access points. A location of eachlisted wireless access point is obtained, in at least some instances,with a measure of coverage, such as a range. When no such range isavailable, a range can be estimated or otherwise established, forexample, from prior experience with the same wireless access point. Inthis sense, the predetermined listing of wireless access points 530, 630can be periodically updated to account for observed or otherwise statedchanges or modifications to coverage of the listed wireless accesspoints 520, 630.

In at least some embodiments, additional measures, such as reliability,availability, and/or quality of service are also included in thepredetermined listing 530, 630. Such measures can be helpful ininstances when a mobile device 516, 616 is within coverage area of morethan one Wi-Fi hotspot. An algorithm can be implemented in one or moreof the controller 508, 608 and the video server 510, 610 to choose fromamong the more than one available wireless access points. For example, awireless access point having a greater reliability, availability and/orquality of services can be selected over one or more others.

If no such wireless access point is available, the process 700 cancontinue to monitor or otherwise determine a location of the mobiledevice at step 710, subsequently determining whether a wireless accesspoint is available at step 715. For example, a location of a mobiledevice that is moving will change and potentially enter and exitcoverage areas of wireless hotspots.

Once a wireless access point has been identified at step 715, theprocess can continue with step 720, in which a network connectionbetween the mobile device 516, 616 and the identified or otherwiseselected wireless access point 522, 622 is initiated. Such initiationcan be directed by one or more of the controller 508, 608 and the videoserver 510, 610. Such connectivity can be confirmed, for example, by amessage from the mobile device 516, 616, received by one or more of thecontroller 508, 608 and the video server 510, 610 over the packetnetwork 512, 612. Alternatively or in addition, such connectivity can beestablished according to a “ping” of the mobile device 516, 616 by oneor more of the controller 508, 608 and the video server 510, 610 , overthe packet network. In one embodiment, instructions or other informationcan be provided to the mobile device 516, 616, such as from thecontroller 508, 608, which requests, instructs or otherwise causesand/or enables the mobile device to connect with one or more wirelessaccess points 516, 616.

After having initiated network connection at step 720, the process 700can continue with step 725, in which a request to deliver high-bandwidthservice, such as streaming video, is forwarded to the video server 510,610. The video server 510, 610, in turn, proceeds to deliver therequested service using the packet network 512, 612.

FIG. 8 depicts an alternative illustrative embodiment of a processoperating in portions of the systems described in FIGS. 1-6 . Thevertical dashed lines represent certain components of the system 500,600. Namely the “UE” refers to user equipment and can refer to themobile device 516, 616. The “eNB” can refer to equipment at the cellsite 504 terminating the wireless, or “air interface,” such as theE-UTRAN Node B, also known as Evolved Node B, of the E-UTRA or LTEwireless systems. The “RAT Controller” refers to a radio access terminalcontroller, such as the controllers 508, 608 disclosed above, and theWiFi hotspot can refer to the Wi-Fi hotspots 522, 622 also disclosedabove.

The uppermost horizontal arrow from UE to eNB represents an initial step(i.e., Step 1), in which the mobile device 516, 616 initiates a servicerequest for traffic-intensive services to the eNB. In a second step(i.e., Step 2), represented by the uppermost arrow between the eNB andthe RAT Controller, the eNB forwards the request to the “core network,”referring to the mobile service providers network, through the RATController. In a third step (i.e., Step 3), the RAT Controller performsa separate location query process, which may or may not involve the UE,to determine a physical location of the UE and to determine whether thedetermined physical location is covered by a nearby Wi-Fi hotspot, forexample, by the same service provider. If this is not true, the RATController passes the service request to the Mobility Management Entity(e.g., the key control-node for an LTE access network) to performtraditional call processing.

In another embodiment, if a determination that the determined physicallocation of the UE is covered by a nearby Wi-Fi hotspot, the RATController (controller 508, 608) passes the radio access information tothe nearby WiFi hotspot (520, 620) to the UE (mobile device 516, 616)through the eNB (base station 609) in a fourth step (i.e., step 4). In afifth step (i.e., Step 5), the UE uses received radio access informationfrom the RAT Controller to connect itself to the Wi-Fi hotspot. Thetransmission of radio access information can be helpful in facilitatingor otherwise reducing setup time associated with wireless packet-networkconnectivity between the UE and the Wi-Fi. In a sixth step (i.e., Step6), the Wi-Fi hotspot uses its own backhaul (e.g., backhaul 524 a) toprovide the UE's requested traffic intensive services.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, the various processesdisclosed herein can be implemented by a single entity, such as acontroller 508, 608, or an application and/or video server 510, 610, orapportioned among more than one of such entities, or additional entitiesas may be network accessible, such as other servers and/or controllers.

In some embodiments the hotspots are provided by the cellular networkservice provider. In other embodiments, at least some of the availablehotspots are provided by others, such as retailers, businesses,municipalities, educational institutions, and personal home hotspots.Although not necessary, information relating to at least some of thehotspots provided by others can be pre-announced to or otherwisediscoverable by the cellular network service provider. For example, suchannouncement can be included under a certification process wherebycertain information related to the hotspot is provided to the serviceprovider. Such information can include one or more of a location, arange or coverage area, a name, a network address, such as an Internetprotocol address, and the like.

In some embodiments, the network service provider coordinates a networktest to determine whether network connectivity, once established,between the mobile device and the hotspot will be sufficient to supportthe requested service. Such network tests can include one or more ofreceived signal strength, bit error rate, Eb/No, or any suitable measureof a quality of service (QOS) and the like. Automatic transfer of arequested service between a cellular network and a hotspot can be madecontingent upon results obtained from such network tests.

In at least some instances, a hotspot host, such as a retail store,wirelessly provides an identification message, for example, through oneor more of Bluetooth, WiFi, or radio frequency identification (RFID) tomobile devices as the user walks in or otherwise comes within wirelessrange of the hotspot. In at least some embodiments, information providedby the hotpot host also identifies the availability of Internet accessvia WiFi and whether this service is available to the public (e.g.,Starbucks®). Other embodiments are contemplated by the subjectdisclosure.

FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 900 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethods discussed above. One or more instances of the machine canoperate, for example, as the controller 130, 508, 608, the videoapplication server 510, and the video server 610 and other devices ofFIGS. 1-6 and FIG. 8 . In some embodiments, the machine may be connected(e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment,the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client usermachine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machinein a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart phone, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a communication device of the subject disclosureincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterm “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

The computer system 900 may include a processor 902 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 904 and a static memory 906, which communicate with each othervia a bus 908. The computer system 900 may further include a videodisplay unit 910 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, ora solid state display. The computer system 900 may include an inputdevice 912 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 914 (e.g., amouse), a disk drive unit 916, a signal generation device 918 (e.g., aspeaker or remote control) and a network interface device 920.

The disk drive unit 916 may include a tangible computer-readable storagemedium 922 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g.,software 924) embodying any one or more of the methods or functionsdescribed herein, including those methods illustrated above. Theinstructions 924 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 904, the static memory 906, and/or within theprocessor 902 during execution thereof by the computer system 900. Themain memory 904 and the processor 902 also may constitute tangiblecomputer-readable storage media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the subject disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

While the tangible computer-readable storage medium 922 is shown in anexample embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing orencoding a set of instructions for execution by the machine and thatcause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods of thesubject disclosure.

The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordinglybe taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such asa memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only(non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable(volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a diskor tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-timesuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g.,RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee), andlong-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, LTE) are contemplatedfor use by computer system 900.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated toachieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodimentsshown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein,are contemplated by the subject disclosure.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can beseen that various features are grouped together in a single embodimentfor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method ofdisclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that theclaimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subjectmatter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimedsubject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: a processing systemincluding a processor, wherein the processing system corresponds to anetwork element of a cellular network that provides cellular services toa plurality of mobile devices; and a memory storing executableinstructions that, when executed by the processing system, performoperations, comprising: receiving a request for a streaming applicationservice from a mobile device included in the plurality of mobiledevices; and responsive to a determination of a location of the mobiledevice relative to a wireless access point that corresponds to a serviceprovider associated with the cellular network: initiating acommunication session between the mobile device and the wireless accesspoint without the mobile device engaging the wireless access point in adiscovery and authorization process; and switching delivery of thestreaming application service to the mobile device from over thecellular network to over the wireless access point.
 2. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the determination involves determining an identity ofthe service provider of the wireless access point.
 3. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the wireless access point is part of a Wi-Fi network.4. The device of claim 1, wherein the determination involves determiningthat the mobile device is in a communication range of the wirelessaccess point.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein a proximity of thewireless access point to the mobile device is determined according to adistance between a location of the wireless access point and thelocation of the mobile device not being greater than the communicationrange of the wireless access point.
 6. The device of claim 1, whereinthe switching of the delivery of the streaming application service tothe mobile device involves causing a server to provide the streamingapplication service to the mobile device, according to an Internet-basedaddress associated with the mobile device, by way of the wireless accesspoint.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the switching of the deliveryof the streaming application service to the mobile device comprisessending a wireless packet-network address of the mobile device to aserver to facilitate delivery of the streaming application service tothe mobile device by way of the wireless access point.
 8. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the operations further comprise confirming initiationof the communication session between the mobile device and the wirelessaccess point, and wherein delivery of the streaming application serviceto the mobile device over the wireless access point is responsive to aconfirmation of the initiation of the communication session.
 9. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein information regarding the location isprovided by the mobile device.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein theinformation is obtained by the mobile device using data from a globalpositioning satellite.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the locationof the mobile device is determined by radio location.
 12. The device ofclaim 11, wherein the radio location comprises triangulation.
 13. Anon-transitory, machine-readable storage device, comprising instructionswhich, responsive to being executed by a processor of a network elementof a cellular network that provides cellular services to a plurality ofmobile devices, cause the network element to perform operationscomprising: obtaining, from a mobile device included in the plurality ofmobile devices, a request for a high-bandwidth service to be providedover the cellular network; and responsive to determining an identity ofa service provider of a wireless access point and responsive to adetermination that the mobile device is in a communication range of thewireless access point: initiating a communication session between themobile device and the wireless access point without the mobile deviceengaging the wireless access point in a discovery process, anauthorization process, or both; and causing a server to provide thehigh-bandwidth service to the mobile device over the wireless accesspoint.
 14. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage device of claim13, wherein the high-bandwidth service comprises a streaming applicationservice.
 15. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage device ofclaim 13, wherein the wireless access point is part of a Wi-Fi network.16. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage device of claim 13,wherein information regarding a location of the mobile device isprovided by the mobile device for the determination.
 17. Thenon-transitory, machine-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein thelocation of the mobile device is obtained by radio location.
 18. Amethod, comprising: receiving, by a processing system comprising aprocessor of a network element of a cellular network, a request for anapplication service from a mobile device; and responsive to determiningan identity of a service provider of a wireless access point andresponsive to a determination that the mobile device is in acommunication range of the wireless access point: initiating, by theprocessing system, a communication session between the mobile device andthe wireless access point without the mobile device engaging thewireless access point in an authorization process; and causing, by theprocessing system, a server to provide the application service over thewireless access point rather than over the cellular network.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the request is directed to the cellularnetwork.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the application servicecomprises a high-bandwidth application service.